Far Cry 2 - PS3 - Review

Thanks to
its late entry in the next-generation console war, the original Far Cry
skipped Sony’s console for the Xbox 360 when it was re-released by the good
folks at Ubisoft. The first game might not have revolutionized first-person
shooters but it was way too much fun that it wasn’t surprising to see expansion
packs even on a console like the original Xbox. Far Cry 2 for the
PlayStation 3, on the other hand, shoots for something different and hits the
target. What we have here is a first-person shooter that will make action fans
happy to take up arms again.

Under
the African sky ...

While this
sequel carries the Far Cry title, Far Cry 2 doesn’t star Jack
Carver nor does the game mention him or the tropical paradise where dangerous
mercenaries wanting nothing more than to put a bullet in you and where powerful
mutated freaks run amok. This game doesn’t even feature Feral abilities. What we
do get is an original action tale that takes place in a region in Africa during
a civil war that turned the area into a war zone. You even get to pick a
character from a short roster of characters that will represent you in the game.

Either
character you pick, the mission remains the same. You are sent into Africa to
stop a notorious arms dealer known as The Jackal. Unfortunately, you quickly
develop an illness that cripples you enough that The Jackal manages to get the
drop on you and tell you that if you will regret it if you continue to pursue
him. Sensing you need help, especially in foreign land where a conflict between
two warring factions (the military power that is the UFLL and the revolutionary
army of the APR), you manage to find allies willing to help you put an end to a
“merchant of death” who is fanning the flame of war. The way you figure it,
sometimes it takes violence to put an end to violence.

Instead of
following a linear path like most first-person shooters, Far Cry 2 offers
an open-world environment while also allowing you the freedom to tackle a
mission in any matter. You can even chose to take a joyride through the lovely
African wild if you want or spend it searching for diamonds you can use to
purchase necessary items or weapons from merchants. Various missions are offered
by a number of sources whether it’s a local journalist looking to uncover the
truth behind the UFLL or aiding the APR in their battle against the military.

With a
little help from my friends ...

Allies
also play a big role in the game to the point that most of them will become
listed as your Buddies. Buddies can offer backup during missions if you require
it and they can even pull you out of harms way when things look bad for you.
Your friends even offer suggestions when you’re about to take on a major mission
or even propose an alternate option as a personal favor. Your friends can also
die in battle if you don’t administer first aid. Apart from working with allies,
you can also secure safe houses to save the game, grab some weapons from your
cache as well as fast-forward time.

The game’s
single-player mode might not weave an intricate tale but the game makes up for
it with a lengthy campaign with much to do. There’s also a lot of terrain to
cover in the game, enough that you’ll definitely appreciate the return of
vehicles in the game as well as a new bus stop feature that allows you to hope
on a bus to the nearest town. Speaking of towns, Far Cry 2 does a great
job of depicting African towns and villages ravaged by civil war and that
includes late night curfews and ceasefire agreements.

When the
bullets fly in the game you will remember each gunfight. Those very familiar
with the original Far Cry won’t find the controls all that different on
the PS3. The D-pad still maps your weapons but instead of a knife you have a
machete. While you won’t be able to set traps like the first game, the long
arsenal list makes up for it. You’ll have a number of weapon options that go
beyond different handguns and it’s great to see flamethrowers that work as good
as the one in this game.

I would
love to say that this is a perfect game but it does have a most notable problem
and it’s the framerate. For the most part it remains rock steady but then again
there are many moments when framerate stutter rears its ugly head. The Buddy AI
isn’t always smart either and there are times when you’ll waste health syringes
reviving a fallen comrade. The framerate issues also pop up in the game’s
multiplayer mode but it’s not as bad that it holds the awesome multiplayer mode
back. The Map Editor is back and it’s even deeper and more elaborate enough to
let your creativity run free. Even the game match types are actually fun.

Beautiful enough to make you cry ...

Graphically speaking, Far Cry 2 is visually stunning and isn’t short on
visual detail. The African landscape is so elaborately displayed that there are
times when I had to stop my jeep just long enough to admire a sunset over a body
of water not far from my main camp. You’ll notice signs of the civil war
everywhere and watch passing military trucks carrying UFLL soldiers to a base.
Fires flicker and bodies crumple after the killing shot. Even explosions and
gunfire look great on the PS3 but I do wish character faces didn’t look as bland
as they do in this game.

It’s easy
to get lost in the game’s visual beauty but it’s the ambient sound effects that
really drive home the feeling that you’re in such an exotic locale. The unseen
wildlife comes to life so vividly that it almost drowns out the sound of your
own footsteps. There’s a great voice acting cast to be found here and it’s just
as diverse as the different sound each weapon makes when discharged. The
soundtrack is also beautifully handled with a nice African flavor the certainly
compliments the locale.

There are
very few first-person shooter series that not only maintain the same excitement
as the original but also takes a massive leap forward in almost every possible
aspect. Far Cry 2 for the PlayStation 3 is not only a fantastic sequel
but also a truly inspiring first-person shooter that’s just too fun to want to
put down. Fans of the original will notice that it stays away from the mutant
theme of the first game but this second outing more than makes up for it with a
compelling action game that will have you playing this one for quite a long time
to come.

Gameplay: 9.0The first-person
shooter action is just as good as the original but the open-ended adventure and
the freedom it grants you makes this Far Cry sequel stand out. The
lengthy single-player game offers a lot to see and do and you can tackle
missions anyway you see fit. You can even include an NPC friend along on a
mission and purchase loads of new weapons and equipment.

Graphics: 8.9Just like the first
game did a great job of placing you in a virgin tropical paradise, Far Cry 2
does a magnificent job of displaying Africa’s many vistas so the backgrounds
are gorgeous. The character models aren’t bad but they couldn’t have been
better.

Sound: 9.0Africa comes to life
with all the sights but also with all the sounds as well. There’s excellent
voice acting in this game and the weapon fire sounds more realistic than in
other first-person shooters out there. Even the soundtrack is great.

Difficulty: Medium/HardThe enemies you’ll
go up against are relentless and many of them do know how to take cover. Some of
them even know when they’ve been outmatched and will attempt to run away. You’ll
also find some dumb enemies but there is no doubt that this game is challenging
no matter what difficulty setting you pick.

Concept: 9.0There are no Feral
abilities in this one and the story is in no way connected to Jack Carver but
darn if you won’t get sucked into the game’s rich African environment and the
interesting conflict that arises during your stay. The addition of Buddies and
the ability to pick different ways of completing a mission breathes new life to
genre. The Map Editor is back and it’s still awesome.

Multiplayer: 9.0The Map Editor is
deep enough that you’ll spend more time designing your unique multiplayer map
than playing through the four game match types. Uprising is destined to be the
popular game match type and this time there are more load out weapons and class
types to use. There are some framerate issues but it’s not severe.

Overall: 9.0Far Cry 2 is a deep and involving
first-person shooter that propels the series forward to new and engaging
heights. While it completely dismisses all the elements introduced in the
original, this game has a lot more going for it and won’t fail to keep you
hooked down to the last bullet. If you aren’t already a fan of this series, you
will be once you play this one.